Advancing Curiosity in Engineering (ACE)
ACE is built on the belief that every student has the potential to pursue their dreams of engineering and find a place in college. To help middle and high school students explore the diverse fields of engineering available at the University of Nevada, Reno, we offer lessons that introduce them to different majors and areas of study.
A note for teachers
Our scheduling system uses one-hour blocks to accommodate all schools in the district. Because bell schedules vary by site, we will personally reach out after you book to confirm the exact time that best matches your class period.
What We Offer
ACE offers 1-hour engineering lessons to middle and high school students that focus on specific majors available at the University of Nevada, Reno. Engineering students and faculty have contributed valuable lessons across a wide range of fields. Each lesson introduces the College of Engineering, provides a basic overview of the featured major, a hands-on activity and a reflection period. Students also have the opportunity to engage with our College of Engineering student workers and ask questions. Thank you to all of our past teachers and students for participating in our ACE program! We taught 48 middle and high school lessons to 1,310 students in the 2025-2026 school year.
ACE sign-ups
Middle and high school teachers may use the ACE lesson registration link to sign up. To learn more about how you can support our work, contact engrk12@unr.edu.
- Balloon Hovercrafts - Aerospace Engineering
- How do engineers reduce friction to make vehicles move faster? In this NGSS-aligned middle school engineering lesson, students explore Aerospace engineering concepts by designing and testing balloon-powered hovercrafts. Students will investigate how air pressure, thrust, and friction allow hovercrafts to glide across surfaces through hands-on building and testing. This lesson introduces students to forces, motion, and basic physics concepts while using the engineering design process.
- Code a Robot - Computer Science Engineering
- In this Computer Science & Engineering challenge, students learning how code controls robotic behavior. Using a programmable robot mouse and a life-sized maze, students explore and test how commands, logic, and sequencing allow machines to sense, decide, and act- cheering on the robot mouse on as it reaches the ‘cheese’! This hands-on programming challenge involves debugging, iteration, and logical thinking. No prior coding experience is required, and is accessible while teaching foundational computational thinking skills.
- Fast and Curious - Mechanical Engineering
- In this mechanical engineering lesson, students explore the concept of drag and how the shape of a vehicle directly influences its resistance to airflow. Starting with a beginner-friendly guided introduction to the physics of drag forces, students take on the role of engineers by sketching, carving, and testing their own foam-block vehicles to discover firsthand how design decisions translate into real performance differences, and how vehicle motion depends on forces. The lesson culminates in a class-wide ramp test where each vehicle's average travel distance is compared, and ending with a discussion about the relationship between shape, drag coefficient, and speed.
- Wildfire Detectives – Environmental Engineering
- In this interactive lesson, students learn about UAS research currently being done in wildfire prevention and detection. They will discover how engineers train AI and UAS to detect and fight fires in our local community. Students have a chance to step into the shoes of an Environmental Engineer in order to ‘detect’ a mock wildfire while flying enclosed drones in a large arena, integrating the engineering design process to test, tweak, and try again with flight fundamentals.
- Little Bits of Code - Computer Science Engineering
- What IS code, and how does it interact with the physical world? In this lesson, students explore the relationship between electronics and computer programming by building interactive inventions. Using LittleBits electronic building blocks, students design and construct simple systems that combine code with lights, sound, and motion. Through hands-on experimentation, students will learn how code can control electronic devices and bring ideas to life. This activity introduces concepts in Computer Science and Engineering, including inputs, outputs, and basic system design. Class set of Chromebooks required.
- Trebuchets - Mechanical Engineering
- Step into the shoes of a Mechanical Engineer, and explore how machines transfer energy by testing tabletop trebuchets. Investigate how potential energy, kinetic energy, force, and motion work together to launch a projectile! Through hands-on experimentation, students adjust variables such as arm length, counterweight mass, and release angle to improve distance and accuracy. The lesson blends history with modern engineering and emphasizes energy transfer, simple machines, and mechanical advantage, while reinforcing the engineering design cycle.
- Wind Energy - Electrical Engineering
- How does wind get converted into electricity? In this NGSS-aligned electrical engineering lesson, students investigate wind energy systems by testing small-scale wind turbines and the energy they produce. Using hands-on models, fans, multimeters, anemometers, and mini-motors, students measure electricity and discover how engineers design wind energy systems. The lesson introduces core concepts such as energy conversion, circuits, and renewable resources, while debating real-world constraints.
- Codeword: MadLibs – Computer Science & Engineering
- In this interactive computer science and engineering lesson, students use Pi-Top computers to explore the fundamentals of coding through a creative Mad Libs-style activity. Students learn how computer programs use variables, user input, and outputs by designing and coding their own customizable Mad Libs stories. As they build and test their programs, students practice computational thinking, problem-solving, debugging, and logical reasoning. This hands-on lesson demonstrates how engineers and computer scientists use code to create interactive experiences while encouraging students to combine creativity with technology.
- AI - Computer Science & Engineering (class set of laptops required)
- Artificial Intelligence is rapidly shaping everyday life... but how does AI actually work? In this lesson, students explore how modern AI systems, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs), use probability, data, and pattern recognition to generate 'answers'. Through a guided activity (class set of Chromebooks required), students will examine how AI makes 'decisions', determine its limitations and accuracy, and discuss why ethical considerations are a critical part of Computer Science & Engineering. Students will look at applications of AI and practice responsible engineering decision-making throughout this hands-on lesson.
- Bridges - Civil/Structural Engineering
- In this hands-on civil and structural engineering lesson, students explore how engineers design bridges to safely support loads while withstanding forces such as tension, compression, and bending. Students begin by examining real-world bridge types and analyzing how forces act on different structures. Working in teams, they then construct model bridges to maximize strength and efficiency. Students test their bridges under increasing loads, collect and analyze data, and iterate on their designs to improve performance. This NGSS-aligned lesson emphasizes problem-solving, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making while giving students an authentic engineering design experience that connects physics concepts to real-world infrastructure.
- High Flying Drones - Aerospace Engineering
- In this exciting aerospace engineering lesson, students investigate the engineering behind flight through hands-on drone operation in an enclosed Drone Arena and coached by certified UAS Pilots. Students first learn the fundamentals of flight, including lift, thrust, drag, and stability; and examine how these forces apply to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Under supervision and working in small groups, students safely pilot drones, practice controlled takeoffs and landings, and complete a mission. The lesson emphasizes real-world applications of drones in engineering and industry while reinforcing concepts in physics and systems design.
- Foam Gliders - Aerospace Engineering
- Step into the shoes of an aerospace engineer to learn all about the engineering behind gliders, an engine-less plane that soars through the skies! Students will learn flight fundamentals while working in teams to create 3-4 ft long foam gliders, and follow the engineering design process through testing, adjusting, and creation.
- Wildfire Detectives – Environmental Engineering
- In this interactive lesson, students learn about UAS research currently being done in wildfire prevention and detection. They will discover how engineers train AI and UAS to detect and fight fires in our local community. Students have a chance to step into the shoes of an Environmental Engineer in order to ‘detect’ a mock wildfire while flying enclosed drones in a large arena, integrating the engineering design process to test, tweak, and try again with flight fundamentals.
- Forensic Chromatography - Chemical Engineering
- In this investigative Chemical Engineering lesson, students step into the role of forensic engineers to solve an Office-themed mystery using chromatography and quantitative reasoning. Students learn how chemical engineers separate and analyze substances by exploring paper chromatography, solubility, and molecular interactions. Working with simulated “evidence,” students conduct chromatography tests, collect and measure data, and apply math skills to compare results and identify unknown samples. Through analysis and evidence-based reasoning, students use their findings to solve the mystery. This NGSS-aligned lesson blends chemistry, engineering practices, and problem-solving into an engaging challenge that highlights how chemical engineering tools are used in forensic science and industry.
- Glass Blowing – Materials Science & Engineering
- This immersive Materials Science & Engineering lesson introduces students to how and why materials change under heat at both the macroscopic and molecular levels. Students explore properties of materials such as viscosity, brittleness, and structural change, examining how heat alters the behavior of glass and other materials. Through a hands-on demonstration and interactive modeling—using Jolly Ranchers!—students personally create molecular structure shifts with temperature and learn why materials can be shaped when heated. The lesson emphasizes material properties, phase behavior, and thermal processing. This lesson offers students a sweet and memorable experience in Materials Engineering concepts.
- Hydrogen-Powered Cars - Civil/Environmental
- In this future-facing Environmental engineering lesson, students explore alternative energy sources and sustainable transportation technology. Students learn how hydrogen-powered vehicles work, comparing traditional internal combustion engines with alternative fuel systems. Working in teams, students construct a hydrogen-powered car from scratch, integrating mechanical components and fuel cell technology. They then test and refine their vehicles, analyzing performance and efficiency while considering environmental impacts and engineering constraints. This lesson offers students a hands-on opportunity to engage with solutions to global transportation challenges.
- Lego Factory Challenge - Industrial Engineering
- This energizing Industrial Engineering lesson gives students the challenge of designing and optimizing a manufacturing process. Students are introduced to kanban principles, workflow management, and efficiency metrics used in modern factories. Working in teams, students operate a simulated LEGO “factory,” producing products under time, quality, and resource constraints. Through multiple production rounds, students collect data, identify bottlenecks, and refine their processes to improve efficiency and reduce waste. Aligned with NGSS and engineering practices, this lesson highlights systems optimization, teamwork, and data-driven decision-making, providing students with an engaging experience in industrial engineering and operations management.
- Prosthetic Legs - Biomedical Engineering
- In this fun Biomedical Engineering lesson, students explore how engineers design prosthetics to restore mobility and improve quality of life. Students begin by learning about the biomechanics of walking, design constraints of prosthetics, and how engineering solutions must account for strength, stability, comfort, and user needs. Working in teams, students design and construct their own model prosthetic “legs” using provided materials, then test their designs in a friendly race challenge. Students collect identify design strengths and limitations and adjust their “legs” to improve function. This NGSS-aligned lesson emphasizes human-centered design and teamwork, offering students a meaningful engineering experience connected to real biomedical applications.
- Simple Circuits - Electrical Engineering
- In this hands-on Electrical Engineering lesson, students investigate the fundamentals of electric circuits by building and testing both simple and parallel circuits. Using graphite pencils, paper, and LED lights, students create functional circuits while exploring conductivity, resistance, and current flow. Students compare circuit designs, observe how changes in layout affect brightness and performance, and troubleshoot non-functioning. Students will develop a foundational understanding of electrical engineering concepts through accessible and engaging circuit creation.
- Trebuchets - Mechanical Engineering
- Step into the shoes of a Mechanical Engineer, and explore how machines transfer energy by testing tabletop trebuchets. Investigate how potential energy, kinetic energy, force, and motion work together to launch a projectile! Through hands-on experimentation, students adjust variables such as arm length, counterweight mass, and release angle to improve distance and accuracy. The lesson blends history with modern engineering and emphasizes energy transfer, simple machines, and mechanical advantage, while reinforcing the engineering design cycle.
- Wind Energy - Electrical Engineering
- How does wind get converted into electricity? In this NGSS-aligned electrical engineering lesson, students investigate wind energy systems by testing small-scale wind turbines and the energy they produce. Using hands-on models, fans, multimeters, anemometers, and mini-motors, students measure electricity and discover how engineers design wind energy systems. The lesson introduces core concepts such as energy conversion, circuits, and renewable resources, while debating real-world constraints.
- Codeword: MadLibs – Computer Science & Engineering
- In this interactive computer science and engineering lesson, students use Pi-Top computers to explore the fundamentals of coding through a creative Mad Libs-style activity. Students learn how computer programs use variables, user input, and outputs by designing and coding their own customizable Mad Libs stories. As they build and test their programs, students practice computational thinking, problem-solving, debugging, and logical reasoning. This hands-on lesson demonstrates how engineers and computer scientists use code to create interactive experiences while encouraging students to combine creativity with technology.
Who we serve
ACE is committed to supporting underrepresented students and we welcome participation from all middle and high schools in and around Washoe County. Priority will be given to Title 1 funded and Title 1-eligible schools.
Please be aware that we are unable to accommodate substitute teachers for our lessons. It is essential that the teacher who registers for the lesson is present during the activity. This ensures a seamless and productive experience for both the students and our facilitators, as the teacher’s involvement is key to maintaining classroom structure and supporting the learning objectives.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us create an engaging and effective educational environment!
ACE sign-ups
Middle and high school teachers may use the ACE lesson registration link to sign up. To learn more about how you can support our work, contact engrk12@unr.edu.
Support
All of our K-12 outreach programs are made possible through the generous support of The Mallory Foundation and Nevada Gold Mines. We appreciate their continued support. Interested in supporting Engineering? Please visit the Engineering support page.